The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:

"dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)

"fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")

"claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")

This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:

They don't notify winners by email.

You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.

They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.

They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.

They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.

They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.

They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!

This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.

fiduciary4claims002@lycos.co.uk

customer_support_unit@consultant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Sequel to our lottery draw of which you participated
either personally or through a friend or relative on
the bases of three ballot papers for a free ballot
paper, the draw has just been released having you as
one of the fifteen lucky winners in the third category
out of three million participants for the prize of
£900,000.00 pounds Sterling in the third category.
However, you missed the jackpot of £2,200,000.00 (Two
million two hundred British Pounds Sterling) in the
first category and the second category of
£1,500,000.00. The following are your winnings details
which may be required upon claims.

Your prize of £900,000.00 shall be paid in three
installments of £300,000.00 each.

For security reasons, you are advised to keep your
winning information confidential till your claims is
processed and your money remitted to you in whatever
manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part
of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming
and unwarranted abuse of this program.

Claim Steps: Contact your Fiduciary Agent stating your FULL
NAME for your claims as he would aid you through the process by
supplying the above numbers.

That way your winnings certificate and all other
relevant documents/paperwork can be prepared for you.
Goodluck from me and members of staff of the
DreamField National Lottery.

Yours faithfully,
Clarke Martins.

Online coordinator for Dreamfield National Lottery
Dreamstakes International Program.

N.B: Please do not reply to this mail. Contact your
Claims agent immediately.

WARNING:

Do not respond to any email that purport to
be ours without any due confirmation especially when
you are required to pay upfront for Insurance and Tax.
The courier company is responsible for the insurance
of your winnings to the full value. And for Tax, the
British Revenue Board shall notify you to remit the
Tax due to her after full payment.Confirm your
winnings from the
confirmation unit Head Mr John Smith on this email:
customer_support_unit@consultant.com